She has the smell of lilies, like the breeze of spring wafting through the fields. When Eryn stole a glimpse into her eyes, the instinct to retreat became less-relevant.
Her voice was soothing like the orchestra of sea-waves eroding his mind.
She had carried herself with confidence in her step, the echo of the floor falling in cadence.
Her steps, reverberating on the walls. Slowly she approached the bedroom.
Everything about her was whispering in his mind, like the crackling of fire. It was smooth, but buried him under the burn of wood, blanketed under layers of ash.
"Does your sense of living include anything else than surviving?" Liora said.
The door creaked, the fire spit, and the shadows danced along the wall.
"Show me what makes you different," She said. "You're here for a reason."
Eryn met her gaze.
"I cant."
"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice." Liora approached Eryn. "Unless you want to keep running in life."
Then it came. The whispers coming from the fire, the voice of Alyssa.
"Always the child begging for food."
Eryn clenched his jaw. "No," he muttered under his breath. "I'm more than that."
The fire flickered and for a moment, he thought he saw Alyssa's face in the flames.
"You'll never escape," the voice whispered. "You belong to the ashes."
"You think you can change?" the voice was soft, haunting. "You'll always be the same, Eryn."
Eryn squeezed his eyes, his breathing hastening, the room feeling too small.
"I need air," he said aloud.
Liora followed him as fled from one corner of the room to the other, his hands running through his hair. "Eryn, talk to me," she urged.
He stopped, turning to face her. "It's not something I can control," he yelled.
"I've tried. It's like trying to grab smoke."
Liora didn't press further. Instead, watched as Eryn circled the room once again.
As the minutes passed, Eryn's mind returned to the fire, back to Alyssa. Her voice, her laugher, her presence, it was now echoes in his mind.
Liora glanced at him, "what is it?" she asked.
Eryn hesitated, then spoke. "The world hasn't been the same since she left?"
"Since who left?" asked Liora.
"Someone I buried."
Eryn exhaling, gazing at his trembling hands.
"Look, I only used my abilities once," he muttered.
Liora stepped close.
Eryn sat in front of the fire. His mind wrestling to gain control. Liora grabbing, taking his shaking hands to her own.
Hidden Skill: Illusionist touch activated.
He whispered, "The fire is too hot."
Liora stared in his eyes and hesitated.
"Eryn, let's take a step outside," her voice blank.
Eryn blinked.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"It's a little hot in here." she replied, taking Eryn's hand and walking out the door into the hallway.
"A little better, now."
He glanced at her, the weight of his thoughts shifting. "Did you feel that?" he asked.
Liora frowned, trying to gasp the meaning of his words, "what are you talking about."
"When you touch me," Eryn said, his voice relaxed now.
He hesitated at what to say next.
"Are you cold?" Eryn asked.
"It's always cold in Veldria, Eryn."
"Yes, but I told you that it was hot."
She glanced at him, finding her thoughts, "you changed my mind?" she asked.
Eryn nodded.
Liora didn't argue. Instead, she studied him, her piercing gaze, steady. "You said when I touched your hands, you changed my mind?" she repeated.
"I told you the fire is too warm." he replied.
Liora grasped his hands, and stared into his eyes.
Eryn's chest tightened, "what are you doing?" he blushed.
"Tell me something. Change my mind. I want to feel it." she begged.
Hidden Skill: Illusionist touch activated.
Eryn's heart pounded, "It's cold here."
Liora's gaze hesitated, her breathing stuttered. She gazed down to her hands holding Eryn's and into his gaze.
Liora nodded.
Eryn looked at her, realization peering through the blur in his stare. "I affect people." he murmured.
The hallway walls closed in. Eryn's mind reeled, the weight of understanding his new power. "I dont want that," he whispered. "I don't want to control people."
"It's not about control," Liora replied. "It's about understanding. You have a gift, Eryn. But you need to learn how to use it."
Eryn's gaze fell to his hands, trembling. "I don't know how."
"You will," Liora assured him. "And I'll help you."
Eryn's mind raced. The fight with Captain Garrick, the moments of calm, the sudden shifts in people's behavior - things he'd dismissed as coincidence.
He clenched his fist, "how will I ever know it's ever real?" he asked.
Liora smiled. "You're not alone in this, Eryn. Remember that."
Eryn's eyes softened. He looked at her, the weight of his past shifted.
They approached the bedroom fire. Eryn realized that his journey had begun.
Eryn stared at the flames, the flickering light on their skin. Liora's hand was stable, warm. He swallowed his saliva, the reality of his power and the warm atmosphere.
"You'll help me?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. "But you have to trust me."
He nodded.
The fire spat, and for a moment, he thought he saw Alyssa's face again, her eyes accusing, her voice lingering in his mind.
"You'll never escape," it said. "you belong to the ashes."
Eryn clenched his jaw, forcing the voice out of his head. He focused on Liora, her steady gaze, the present time.
"I'm ready," he said.
Liora squeezed smiled. "We have a long road ahead."
"I know," he replied, his voice steady. "But I'm not running anymore."
The fire burned low, the room growing dark. Eryn and Liora stood side by side, their shadows merging into one.